The Secret City
Learn to draw with Commander Mark.
The Secret City was a television program designed to teach children how to draw, starring Mark Kistler as as the fictional ‘Commander Mark’ who led viewers and in-studio club members through various drawing exercises in a sci-fi clubhouse setting full of fun, fantasy, and adventure. While the show’s format essentially prioritizes instruction over narrative, ongoing ‘drama’ is created by the frequent addition of new key features to the emerging scenery of the giant Secret City mural. Often Special Guests would appear on the show to demonstrate other art forms or practical applications for drawing skills. The show was created by John Price & Mark Kistler, based on Bruce McIntyre's AVDP. Much of the series was edited live in-camera and was shot in a somewhat semi-scripted format. It was produced at Maryland Public Television through private funding by Children's Video Associates, and intended for broadcast via national PBS syndication. It also aired on TVOntario.
Cast
Mark Kistler
Commander Mark
Joel Gori
Cindy/MetaMan/Zebtron
Seasons
Mark Kistler starring as 'Commander Mark' Teaches children perspective drawing using the '7 Magic Words of Drawing' techniques pioneered by Bruce McIntyre in his long-standing classroom curriculum, the Audio-Visual Drawing Program (AVDP).
E1Moonscape Building
Sep 2, 1985
US Log Line: [ Debut: "Fun, fantasy and adventure" are the tools used by host Commander Mark to teach youngsters the joys of drawing. First up: using squares to create a table, wedding cake.]
E2Flying Saucers
Sep 3, 1985
E3Mountains With Lids
Sep 4, 1985
E4Observatory
Sep 5, 1985
US Log Line: A segment on computer art. Pre-Production Name (AVM); #104: "Shooting Stars"
E5Moonbots - Club Day
Sep 6, 1985
E6Robot
Sep 9, 1985
E7Optical Illusions
Sep 10, 1985
E8Home
Sep 11, 1985
US Log Line: Tips on drawing your home.
E9Animation
Sep 12, 1985
E10Unibear - Club Day
Sep 13, 1985
E11Flip Book
Sep 16, 1985
E12Go Underground
Sep 17, 1985
E13Animal Hand Puppets
Sep 18, 1985
US Log Line: How to create 3-D mazes.
E14Humanlike Hand Puppets
Sep 19, 1985
E15Monorail - Club Day
Sep 20, 1985
E16Space Station - Platform
Sep 23, 1985
E17Architecture
Sep 24, 1985
E18Spaceships
Sep 25, 1985
E19Castles
Sep 26, 1985
E20Covered Cities - Club Day
Sep 27, 1985
E21SHOW: 21
Sep 30, 1985
E22Masks
Oct 1, 1985
E23Party Favors
Oct 2, 1985
E24Cake Decorations
Oct 3, 1985
E25Birthday Party - Club Day
Oct 4, 1985
E26Underground Village
Oct 7, 1985
E27Frog Family
Oct 8, 1985
E28Skylines
Oct 9, 1985
E29Space Landing
Oct 10, 1985
E30City Art - Club Day
Oct 11, 1985
E31Flags
Oct 14, 1985
E32Fences
Oct 15, 1985
E33Hot Dog Stand
Oct 16, 1985
E34Chain Power
Oct 17, 1985
E35Two-Headed Animal - Club Day
Oct 18, 1985
E36Coloring
Oct 21, 1985
E37Computer Color
Oct 22, 1985
E38Contraptions
Oct 23, 1985
E39SHOW: 39
Oct 24, 1985
E40Flying Bird - Club Day
Oct 25, 1985
E41SHOW: 41
Oct 28, 1985
E42SHOW: 42
Oct 29, 1985
E43SHOW: 43
Oct 30, 1985
E44SHOW: 44
Oct 31, 1985
E45SHOW: 45
Nov 1, 1985
E46SHOW: 46
Nov 4, 1985
E47SHOW: 47
Nov 5, 1985
E48SHOW: 48
Nov 6, 1985
E49SHOW: 49
Nov 7, 1985
E50Puppets - Club Day
Nov 8, 1985
E51Natural Design
Nov 11, 1985
E52Columns
Nov 12, 1985
E53Stripes
Nov 13, 1985
E54People
Nov 14, 1985
E55Faces - Club Day
Nov 15, 1985
E56Silhouettes
Nov 18, 1985
E57Disguises
Nov 19, 1985
E58People Moves
Nov 20, 1985
E59Spots
Nov 21, 1985
E60Lettering - Club Day
Nov 22, 1985
E61Igloo
Nov 25, 1985
E62Wishing Well
Nov 26, 1985
E63Flying Animals
Nov 27, 1985
E64Airplanes
Nov 28, 1985
E65Cartooning - Club Day
Nov 29, 1985
US Log Line: The Secret City mural is completed. Pre-Production Name (AVM); #165:"Cartooning" {Note: The Log Line as printed in TV Guide was inaccurate. Episode 65 was a Club Day and there are no mural segments on Club Days. The mural was completed the prior Thursday in episode 64. This error likely originates with the pre-production Program Listings developed for the show by Adler Video Marketing which stated "#165: "Cartooning." Cartoonist Al Grosso helps Commander Mark finish the secret city mural."}
Videos
Storyline
The Secret City was a television program designed to teach children how to draw, starring Mark Kistler as as the fictional ‘Commander Mark’ who led viewers and in-studio club members through various drawing exercises in a sci-fi clubhouse setting full of fun, fantasy, and adventure. While the show’s format essentially prioritizes instruction over narrative, ongoing ‘drama’ is created by the frequent addition of new key features to the emerging scenery of the giant Secret City mural. Often Special Guests would appear on the show to demonstrate other art forms or practical applications for drawing skills. The show was created by John Price & Mark Kistler, based on Bruce McIntyre's AVDP. Much of the series was edited live in-camera and was shot in a somewhat semi-scripted format. It was produced at Maryland Public Television through private funding by Children's Video Associates, and intended for broadcast via national PBS syndication. It also aired on TVOntario.
Recommended
More Like This
Ben & Eddie
1990
Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog
1993
El Chavo del Ocho
1973
Bear in the Big Blue House
1997
A Different World
1987
American Dragon: Jake Long
2005
Gintama
2006
The Powerpuff Girls
1998
Camp Lazlo
2005
Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!
2006
Baby Looney Tunes
2002
Beast Wars: Transformers
1996